Fuel efficiency test must for heavy vehicle drivers in Indore

Deputy transport commissioner (Indore) Sanjay Soni said the Fuel efficiency test will be compulsory from April 1, 2018. Fuel efficiency is one of the most important factors in modern road transport.

The government is going to make fuel efficiency test compulsory for drivers of commercial and heavy vehicles. Officials of the transport department said the drivers will have to undergo a training session while applying for a licence or renewing their old ones.

“Licences will be issued when the applicant passes test,” they said.

Fuel efficiency test to be made must for heavy vehicle drivers in Indore

Deputy transport commissioner (Indore) Sanjay Soni said the test will be compulsory from April 1, 2018. Fuel efficiency is one of the most important factors in modern road transport.

Training certificate

The drivers will be required to attach the training certificate at the time of applying for a license for driving heavy goods vehicle or heavy passenger motor vehicle, according to a draft notification to amend the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, dated February 21. According to the proposal, a driving performance test will be conducted first to evaluate fuel efficiency “in terms of kilometre or litre by using suitable set up and test procedure.”

Additionally, the applicant will have to undergo classroom training on importance of fuel efficiency “consisting of discussion on drawbacks or shortcomings or negative points as well as encouraging or worthy or positive or good habits noted or observed during initial driving test.”

After the classroom or on-site training is complete, there will be another driving performance test to evaluate the improvement in fuel efficiency. The driving test will be conducted on a five-kilometre-long road with at least three speed breakers, according to the proposed notification.

A senior Road Transport and Highways Ministry said that it may rope in Petroleum Conservation Research Association (PCRA), which is under the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry, to provide fuel efficiency training to bus or truck drivers.

“We are in favour of imparting basic training to transport drivers on fuel efficiency,” said S.P. Singh, a senior fellow at the Indian Foundation of Transport Research and Training (IFTRT).

“However, we also feel that the government should increase the minimum education qualification for commercial vehicle drivers and only after that proper training should be given to them on road safety and fuel efficiency.”

“Using less fuel when driving also means that carbon emissions and air pollutants from vehicles are reduced,” pointed Soni.

“Everyone can play a part in saving fuel, but drivers of vehicles like buses, trucks, dumpers and others should be more responsible,” he added.

SOurce: https://goo.gl/aqmO0U